Steven Budai Acquitted of Assault Charges in McDonald, Pennsylvania, Police Shooting Case

A jury on Friday acquitted Steven J. Budai of assault charges stemming from a September 2025 confrontation with police in McDonald, Pennsylvania, while finding him guilty of three other offences.

Budai, 46, was cleared of four counts of assault on a law enforcement officer involving a discharged firearm and four aggravated-assault counts, WPXI reported.

Jurors convicted him of possessing an instrument of crime with intent and two counts of recklessly endangering another person. He was acquitted of two additional reckless-endangerment charges.

The case followed an incident in the 300 block of Fairmont Street. Police alleged that Budai fired at officers before barricading himself inside a home and eventually surrendering peacefully.

No one was injured, although investigators said police and civilian vehicles were struck. Sentencing is pending.